I exercised!!

Big deal, right?

Well, here's the thing...when I got pregnant I swore I would be more active than I was with Beanie. With that pregnancy I didn't exercise. At all. Granted I was waking up for work at 3:30 in the morning and on my feet for 8+ hours a day, but exercise -- real exercise -- nope. I wanted it to be different this pregnancy. For one, I would like to gain about the same amount of weight I did last time, but without the help of the ever restrictive gestational diabetes diet. While I am sure the diet did a lot for me only gaining 4lbs over the last 14weeks of my pregnancy I would like to avoid having an official diagnosis this time. I've been trying to eat better this pregnancy and swore up and down I would be active as well.

But, here's the thing. Its fall which around here means rain. I also have a tendency to suffer from seasonal depression. Not only is it rainy, but its dark! And I don't walk in the rain. Like ever. I'm not much for power walking through the mall either, although that idea has crossed my mind more than a few times this fall. Any by crossed my mind I mean I thought about it but never really had the motivation to do it.

But today I went on the elliptical machine for a half hour. Woohoo! Granted I was going about 40 RPMs so I think my 2 1/2 year old daughter probably could've gone faster, but the point is, I did it. I said I would work out after breakfast and I did. The even more amazing thing is I really didn't feel like it, but I forced my lazy butt to get on the elliptical machine and then went even longer than I had planned on (because, to be honest, last time I tried to hop on the darn thing I was beat after about 5 minutes).

So, today I'm motivated. I felt really good after exercising. I knew I would. If you know me very well (or even if you don't) you might know that my post-baccalaureate coursework all focused on the anti-depressant effects of exercise. Nothing like practicing what you preach, right? I know if I can keep this up it will help my fall/winter blahs and it will also keep me (and Baby 2.0) healthier this pregnancy.

I'm just hoping this motivation can carry me a little farther. Glenn is home this week, so I should be able to exercise in the mornings (which, let's face it its the easiest...there's nothing like putting it off all day and then coming up with a really convenient excuse not to exercise). I hope I can get into the groove and have it continue. I'm hoping it will also help with the whole feeling-like-I-got-hit-by-a-truck-every-time-I-work thing too.